The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1887-09-17
Seeing for Himself.


from the PlttSburk Press, 6th ult.
Continuing his sermons on 1.-THE
Social Evil" in the Cumberland
Presbyterian Church last night, Rev.
j. b. Koehne told his audience what
he saw and heard during a tour of
the brothels, which he made last
week in company with an Elder Of
his and city detective. He took
his text from Proverbs 7, 27, "The
chamber of DEATH" the title of his
sermon being "What I saw in COM
pany with the police"
Among other things he said:
On that night the officer took us
where vice lived in spIendor. And
yet, this avenue, where some of the
most splendid palaces in Pittsburg
are congregated-that avenue was
dark, deserted, hushed with an awful
stiffness ! No signs of life anywhere !!
Windows closed! Shutters closed
Apparently not living being with
in those houses which doomed
up out Of the shadows before US! 1t
is said that the streets leading to
Rome are lined on either side with
tombs And this avenue looked
more like the narrow street of a GEM
etery.
After a few moments brisk walk
ing we arrived at the most elegant
palaces in Pittsburg. The officer
quickly mounted the steps and rang
the bell. The locks turned, the door
opened and after a whispered CONVEX
sation as to our mission, we were adj
mitted, Ushered into the parlor. we
saw nothing in the furniture or the
embellishments which would war;
rant eulogy upon their reputed
magnificence, Pictures graced the
walls, but almost without exception
they were images of home scenes or
landscapes. The furniture quiet,
tasteful with little semblance Of dis
play. The shutters tightly closed
and the curtains drawn. What else
did l see? Faces where the marks
of dissipation were destroying the
last lingering traces of beauty; eyes,
unnatural in their lustre; cheeks, ar
tificially masked to hide their fading
glory; features, whose innocence had
been trampled upon by the brutal
hoof of revelry.
saw something else that was pitt
full. Whenever the door bell rang,
one would raise to answer it. AS
she started to the door she would
force a smile upon her lips with
which to welcome the visitors. Yes,
they must smile, though their hearts
be breaking. They dare not weep :;
they dare not look downcast they
dare not utter murmer ofcomplaint
no matter how terribly they are tor
tured with remOrse or inconsistencies.
I asked the question "Is there
happiness in this life of abandon
ment 2" Listen to the answer:
"No."
"Is there peace ?"
"There is no peace"
Ills there hope ?"
Upon the threshold of these dens
are written the words which Dante
tells US are written over the gates of
hell :-"Leave behind all hope-all
We who enter here !" The gilded
palace is in reality a penitentiary-
every room dungeon, every inmate
a prisoner. 1t is true they sometimes
60 upon the street, but a chain clanks
with every footstep a chain more
heavy, more CALLING, more agonizing
than ever fettered a human soul.
Her bracelet is a handcuff. Her
necklace is an iron band Of torture.
Her apparel is In reality a convict'5
garb. Escape they cannot; suicide,
they dare not. No hope of release,
no hope of future life. They are
abandoned, doomed, prisoners for
life, prisoners for eternity.